The Magic Empire for 20,000 years

Chapter 21, Section 20: Bloodshed Across the Land
The orc tribes began a new Long March.

Five centuries ago, the defeat in the struggle against the elves forced the three orc clans to abandon their most fertile and beautiful lands, the fairy forests imbued with magical power, and their most precious minerals, and to leave the heart of the continent for the barren and wild lands of the East.

And now, another new, tiny race, using the same weapon called "magic," has driven them away once again.

The orcs crossed the river and headed south of Eldoron, far from the human villages they had once slaughtered and plundered.

The villagers of Rolling Stone Village and other villages witnessed this scene firsthand.

They saw the beastmen at the foot of the mountain or in the distant wilderness, collectively moving away and gradually disappearing into the distance.

"The mages drove the orcs away."

"They're gone, they're gone! Those orcs have really disappeared!"

"The orcs are gone. No one else will die, right?"

"Thank you, Venerable Masters!"

"If we study magic diligently, we can become such powerful mages too, right?"

This is the greatest inspiration for the children who are learning basic magic in their rudimentary schools.

They witnessed the turning point of the era, saw the orcs driven away by the magic of mages, and aspired to be heroes like them.

"Little Grete, you won't need to help with the farm work anymore," his father told him that morning.

"You should follow Teacher Joseph and learn magic properly!"

……

"Your Majesty, the orcs have crossed the Jade Washing River and are heading towards the lush Emerald Mountains—said to be ruled by a powerful ancient dragon lord, and the orcs are probably going there to join him."

Should we continue the pursuit?

Commander Thor asked Elion a question as he watched the orcs wading through the water or crossing the bridge.

"no need."

El-Erian waved his hand.

He didn't want to exterminate the orcs; he simply wanted to drive away these bloodthirsty bandits and give the ancient humans a chance to recuperate, increase their population, and develop their agriculture.

Compared to the robust physique of orcs, the innate magical power and long lifespan of elves, and the vast numbers of goblins, the human race also has its own unique advantages.

Exceptional learning and growth abilities and almost unbelievable creativity.

Humans can easily master new specialties, excel at creating new spells and professions, can take up almost any extraordinary profession, and can perfectly accommodate and integrate the bloodlines of almost every extraordinary race.

This is a race full of miracles.

This is the ultimate late-game talent that can only be amplified infinitely in a civilized society, in a stable living environment, and with a sufficient population base and educational support!

It was precisely because of this talent that, ten thousand years later, the myriad nations of humanity were able to become the masters of this continent.

El-Erian, however, needs to bring forward this process.

Watching the orcish caravan cross the river and disappear into the distance, Elion calmly said:
"Let the orcs go."

"If we were to completely exterminate all the orc tribes in the eastern part of the continent, it would likely incur the wrath of the orc pantheon..."

"Defeating an alien race in a normal battle is one thing, but annihilating them is another. The latter is likely to attract the attention of the race's god."

"Eldoron is not capable of bearing the wrath of the true gods." Mentioning the orc gods, the eyes of many mages, including Thor, dimmed slightly.

Humans are the only intelligent species without the protection of a god.

This is a pain that will forever remain in the hearts of humankind.

Then, El-Erian added a meaningful remark:
"I mean, not yet."

……

When the last group of orcs crossed the river and went far away.

Elian led the mages and the able-bodied villagers from a dozen or so villages south of Eldoron to the Jade Washing River.

The imperial monarch gazed at the departing orcish caravan across the river, pointed to the rushing water, and said:

"From now on, the land north of the Xiyu River will be our human land."

"No enemy, whether orc, dragon, elf, dwarf, demon, or anything else, can cross this threshold."

"For on this side of the river lies the land of Eldoron, our common treasure."

"If one day a new enemy crosses this river, invades the land of Eldoron, and kills our compatriots, no matter how powerful they are, we will fight them to the end."

"Because this is the border of Eldoron, a line watered with the blood of hundreds of thousands of human compatriots who perished at the hands of orcs over the centuries. It was carved by the elite Eldoron battle mage corps, facing a ferocious and tyrannical enemy, with unwavering faith in victory."

Land belonging to humankind...

The land of Eldoron...

The Empire's "Borderline"...

The ancient mages and ordinary villagers, listening to Elian recite these somewhat unfamiliar words and gazing at the distant, now-hidden orc tribes, suddenly understood, their hearts surging like a rolling river.

In those early days, borders and the boundaries of empires were not clearly defined.

Even today, El-Erian has given them meaning.

"Sol, let's erect a stone monument here."

El-Erian instructed.

"This stone tablet records the bloody atrocities committed by the orcs over the past centuries, and how we have defeated and driven them out today."

"This stone tablet must be very sturdy, and the characters must be deeply engraved, so that it can withstand the erosion of time. So that our future generations can also know what this land has experienced in the past."

"This stone tablet must be very large and magnificent. So that when any alien race sees it, they will know that the land on the other side of the river is human land."

Thor nodded:
"Following His Majesty's will."

The mages then cast the "Stone Wall" and "Stone Shaping" spells together.

Before long, a tall and huge stone tablet stood on the riverbank.

A stream flows gently past the stone tablet. History bears the marks on the tablet.

This is Eldoron's first border.

From that day on, the empire had frontiers.

(End of this chapter)